Lisbon in facts
1. THE CAPITAL THAT IS NOT
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and we have no doubt about that, but did you know that it has never been officially declared as such? Unlike other European cities, there is no document that attests to the capital status of the city of the Seven Hills.
two. A LITTLE RESPECT, PLEASE
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world and the longest-lived in Western Europe, where it beats Paris, London or Rome itself by a few centuries.
3. THE YELLOW OF ITS TRAMS
The iconic trams that have run through Lisbon since the beginning of the 20th century were acquired in the United States. Due to their origin they were known as "the Americans".
Four. THE LONGEST BRIDGE IN EUROPE
The Vasco da Gama Bridge, inaugurated in 1998, spans the Atlantic with its 17.2 kilometers in length. This architectural feat also holds the curious record of having hosted the largest number of diners seated during a meal (a hearty feijoada) : nothing more and nothing less than 15,000 people who also had the privilege of attending its inauguration.
5. LISBON MEN, AMONG THE MOST HANDSOME IN THE WORLD
In 2012, Traveler's Digest magazine ranked the city of Lisbon as the fourth city in the world in number of attractive men (behind Amsterdam, New York and Stockholm). Nothing like taking a tour of this beautiful city to see it first-hand.
The longest in Europe
6.**LISBON
The devastated neighborhood that was reborn from its ashes
8. THE SECRET OF THE CAKE
It is said, it is commented, that only five people know the secret of the recipe for the famous pastéis de Belém of the ** Old Confeitaria de Belém **. Since 1837, when a monk from the Jerónimos Monastery transmitted the lure to the owners of the Antiga Confeitaria, his cream cakes are considered almost a work of art. It is rumored that only five lucky people know the precious secret. They cannot travel together by plane or by car: there are few precautions to preserve one of the best kept treasures of Portuguese confectionery.
Pastéis de Belém: the best kept recipe
9. THE ROADS, A WORK OF ART
They are slippery, impossible if you want to wear heels, but the so-called portuguese road (from simple geometric patterns to sophisticated designs), it is one of the most unique and differentiating features of the city. Those in charge of carrying out these true wonders are the knitters , stone wizards who have been practicing their trade for more than two centuries. A curiosity? In the 1930s, the municipal chamber of Lisbon had just over 400 knitters. Today it only has a squad of 18.
The work of the knitters, essential
10. THE SMALLEST BOOKSTORE IN THE WORLD?
It does not appear in the ** Guinness Book of Records ** but there is no doubt that Livraria Simão is the smallest in Portugal and it would not surprise us if it were in the whole world. With its 3.8 m2, the tiny (that's the right word) bookstore does not fit both its owner (young Simão) and the customer on duty. Its tiny size does not imply that the literary offer is limited , on the contrary: 4,000 books await you here where you can find literary gems by Portuguese authors and some rarities, such as a first edition of a book by Rimbaud.
Livraria Simão
eleven. LISBON, CITY OF SPIES
Lisbon was a nest of German, American and English spies during World War II. Despite the fact that Portugal remained neutral during the conflict, the capital became a nerve center for espionage, its reputation being such that it is even mentioned in the film. White House.
The Avenida Palace hotel was the favorite of these secret agents. Today it is possible to see on the fourth floor of this hotel a door that has been closed since 1955 (and that leads to a passageway that linked the hotel with Rossio Station, thus facilitating the anonymous entry of spies) .
12. THE SAN FRANCISCO OF EUROPE
Since in 2010 Portugal became the sixth European country to approve same-sex marriage, the capital of Lisbon enthusiastically celebrates its lgbt pride with the opening of a multitude of spaces dedicated to this group, a community that is pushing hard in the artistic and professional world. The hot spot of the move? The Principe Real neighborhood, one of the trendiest in the Portuguese capital.
Hotel Avenida Palace
13. THE FUTURE EUROPEAN SILICON VALLEY?
Lisbon brims with creativity and dynamism: in few cities of old Europe is such energy felt. Perhaps that is why it has been chosen as the venue for the Web Summit Conference (next November), considered "the best technological conference on the planet", and which attracts the most influential personalities on the digital scene and hundreds of start-ups eager to gain a foothold in the new technological society.
The choice of Lisbon had a lot to do with its entrepreneurial spirit as evidenced by the many co-working spaces that have emerged in recent times, such as the surprising The Village Underground where the future Facebook and Airbnb are incubated between buses and containers.
14. AND OF COURSE, CRISTIANO RONALDO...
Since the beginning of August Lisbon has become the second city to open one of the Pestana CR7 hotels, the chain of boutique hotels inspired by the personality and style of the famous athlete. The contemporary-style hotel is located in the Baixa area and offers a personalized CR7 program get-in-shape to get in shape.
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You will sleep in a hotel with CR7 spirit